Tonali admits to betting on football yet escapes with suspended sentence

The betting world has become more controlled and complicated, which concerns not only ordinary users but also well-known footballers and other athletes.

As football and betting fans might already know, placing predictions on matches is strictly prohibited to all participants of the FA, including players, management board, coaching stuff, and so on. Tonali broke this ban in 2023, and legal proceedings have been continuing to this day.

The court has lately come up with the decision for a suspended sentence, so let's explore the event and try to predict how the outcome will affect the footballer's future career.

Sandro Tonali, a young Italian sports star, currently playing as a midfielder at Newcastle United, has a bright future in the country's football.

The athlete played 130 games in Milan, and the contract with the team makes him the most expensive player in the state. However, the footballer seemed to be not enough with a 70-million salary, so he decided to try his luck in online betting, which resulted in a huge scandal.

Although some people might understand Sandro, as the FastestWithdrawal list of bookies can sometimes offer lucrative conditions and winning opportunities.

However, all FA members signed an agreement stating that they would never participate in betting activities. Tonali was reported to violate this requirement by placing bets on different teams.

The figure may seem shocking - but yes, Sandro managed to place over 50 bets on Milan and Brescia (the team he was previously playing for).

Such actions are strictly forbidden by the Football Association and usually lead to disqualifications and bans on joining sports clubs in the future.

Tonali was reported to have placed bets from August to October 2023 - and the truth was revealed quite quickly. He only made predictions on his team's win (and they were mostly correct), which therefore didn't help him eliminate punishment.

The player didn't make excuses to explain his mistakes and immediately admitted guilt, which ultimately influenced the final punishment

The young footballer instantly felt the results of his unlawful activities by being restricted from matches for ten months.

It was applied in October 2023, so the promising athlete has no chance to show his performance in Euro-2024, which awaits fans in June.

He also skipped the end of the 2023/2024 Premiere League season, so Newcastle United had to cope with challenges without its talented midfielder.

Tonali did not try to hide the truth and immediately voiced his desire to cooperate with responsible organisations and receive a fair punishment for his offense. This behavior helped him avoid the maximum suspension period of 3 years.

The several-month investigation proved numerous rules violations from the Italian footballer, so Sandro Tonali's resulted in him being banned from matches for two months.

Moreover, the sports star has to pay a £20,000 fine, which is reported to be significantly lower than the sum he could potentially win from betting.

The athlete actively participates in all processes and doesn't deny his violation, which is why a more lenient punishment is applied to him.

It's worth noting that the player bet exclusively on the victory of his team, which could also soften the final sentence.

It was reported that most of Tonali's bets were beneficial, which could potentially bring him over £100,000 in profits. Of course, he didn't get this money from bookmakers once the deception was revealed.

The football star's agent mentioned that Sandro Tonali suffers from gambling-related problems that significantly affect his career and lifestyle.

Of course, it's not an excuse to break the general FA laws, but the disorder could still guide his activities with bookmakers. Therefore, the athlete agreed to undergo an eight-month long therapy that would reduce his cravings for this banned entertainment.

This point is an essential part of penalties applied to the young athlete. Moreover, he will be obliged to make at least sixteen public appearances to educate the younger generation about the risks of uncontrolled betting activities and the harmful consequences they often result in.

According to the Gambling With Lives Charity, putting addicted individuals in an environment where betting is flourishing is like inviting an alcoholic to the pub.

According to this organisation, the football club's management should have been more attentive to players and identify potential problems when beginning cooperation.

Well, it's known for sure that besides the scandal, Newcastle United supports his teammate in all possible means during all the legal proceedings.

Luckily for the player, Newcastle United didn't report any plans about disqualifying Tonali or selling him to another FC. Therefore, the athlete will be able to return to professional football after the two-month ban on matches and mandatory treatment for gambling addiction.

Penalties applied to Sandro are not as severe as they theoretically might be, so he still has amazing potential in the following years. Of course, if he doesn't return to the harmful risky hobby again.

Currently, the football star should concentrate on therapy and get rid of compulsive behaviours.

This story should definitely become an important lesson for other athletes who must know that FA strictly complies with no-betting rules, and any attempts to violate them will be revealed and punished according to the law.

Gamble responsibly. Contact the Gambling Helpline for free and confidential support, information and counselling on 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au.